In the golden grasslands of Gir Forest, a young lioness named Lali loved to race the wind.
She was strong, quick, and sure of herself. Whenever the older animals offered advice, Lali would flick her tail and say, “I know what I’m doing!”
Her mother often warned her, “Courage is good, child, but listening makes you wise.”
Lali only grinned. She believed speed and sharp claws were enough.
One warm evening, the pride gathered for a hunt. The elder lion, Ajoba, explained softly,
“We must stay quiet and circle the deer together.” But Lali dashed ahead before he finished speaking.
This alerted deer and the hunt vanished in the deep jungle. The rest of the pride returned hungry, while Lali sat with her ears drooping. Still, she whispered to herself, It wasn’t my fault.
A few days later, Lali wandered to the riverbank alone. The wise old tortoise Bala called out, “Be careful, little one. Crocodiles rest in the shallows.”
“I’m faster than any crocodile,” Lali replied, splashing into the cool water. Suddenly a dark shape moved—two sharp eyes and a long snout. With a loud hiss, a crocodile lunged!
Lali leapt back just in time, heart thumping like a drum. Bala nudged closer and said kindly,
“Speed saved you today. But listening would have kept you safe from the start.”
That night, as the moonlight touched the grass, Lali thought about Bala’s words and Ajoba’s patient instructions. Perhaps strength wasn’t everything. Perhaps wisdom lived in quiet voices.
The next morning, when Ajoba began to plan another hunt, Lali sat close and listened carefully. She waited for every instruction and followed the signals. This time the pride worked as one, and the hunt was a success.
Ajoba smiled. “Today you moved like a true lioness—brave and wise.”
From then on, Lali greeted Bala politely by the river and often asked the older lions for guidance. She still ran fast and leapt high, but she also paused to hear the wind in the grass and the rustle of hidden footsteps.
The other cubs began to copy her, saying,
“If Lali listens, so will we.”
Moral:
Strength and courage are valuable, but true wisdom comes from listening and learning.